Nottingham Forest will struggle to make the Championship play-offs this season, according to Reds legend Kenny Burns. But the European Cup winner is convinced a mid-table finish would be no bad thing.

Only a few weeks ago, Mark Warburton’s side were two points adrift of the top six. After Saturday’s 4-2 defeat at Ipswich Town, however, the gap stands at eight points, with Forest in 13th place and 20 games gone.

It was a seventh reverse on the road for the Reds, and while their home form remains strong, Burns thinks a promotion push may now prove beyond them.

But, having only narrowly avoided relegation last term, he argues a campaign of laying foundations could prove more beneficial in the long run at the City Ground.

Burns also echoes Warburton’s view Forest need to be just as good at doing the “ugly” side of the game as they are producing impressive attacking football.

“We’re not Barcelona or Manchester City and this is the Championship; the second highest league in English football, not the top-flight,” he said.

“Sometimes you have to lump the ball. It’s allright playing pretty, pretty football, but we also have to be able to mix it up; be a bit nasty at times, because it’s all about getting the three points.”